University of Cambridge to launch new Mind and Brain Institute in April 2027

The University of Cambridge is establishing a new research institute dedicated to brain health, bringing together researchers, patients, practitioners and other experts to study cognitive and emotional well-being across different stages of life.

The Cambridge Mind and Brain Institute will officially launch in April 2027 and will focus on understanding and improving brain health from early childhood through old age.

The institute will combine research expertise with advanced facilities and collaboration across disciplines.

Researchers at the institute will have access to on-site neuroimaging and brain stimulation technologies, along with technical support, advanced methods guidance and scientific computing resources. The facilities will also be accessible to researchers from the wider academic community.

The university said the institute will bring together expertise from across Cambridge to work with patients, carers, practitioners, policymakers and innovators.

The collaboration will focus on understanding cognitive and emotional difficulties and developing better ways to support people experiencing them throughout their lives.

Professor Deborah Prentice, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Cambridge, said the institute would combine research capabilities with the experiences of patients and partners.

"The Cambridge Mind and Brain Institute will unite world-class research, facilities, and the lived experiences of patients and partners. By unlocking the mysteries of brain and mind health, it aims to transform how we understand and support individuals experiencing cognitive and emotional difficulties at every stage of life," she said.

The institute is being established against growing concerns about factors that can affect brain health. According to the university, digital lifestyles, diet, physical inactivity, acute and chronic illnesses, climate change, conflicts and social cohesion can all pose risks to brain health.

Researchers, however, still do not have a complete understanding of how these factors influence cognitive and emotional well-being or why their effects can vary between individuals.

The university said this limited understanding also contributes to the ineffectiveness of some existing treatments for conditions affecting the brain and mind.

The institute will also have an academic and training focus, with programs designed to prepare translational cognitive neuroscientists for research and its application.

The university will welcome its first cohorts of postgraduate students and researchers this autumn to the new MPhil in NeuroAI and Intelligent Systems and the established MPhil in Cognitive Neurosciences.

Both programs will provide foundational training in advanced research areas and techniques, giving students an opportunity to develop expertise in emerging approaches to understanding the brain and mind.

Alongside postgraduate research degrees and taught programs, the institute plans to offer shorter courses and training workshops to expand access to specialist learning.

The Cambridge Mind and Brain Institute will host weekly headline lecture series as well as a range of academic events for researchers and the wider university community.

Events planned for the institute's first term include a showcase featuring postdoctoral researchers, an EDI and wellbeing day, and a research culture workshop.

The institute also intends to increase public and special interest group participation in brain and mind research. Its activities will include participatory research, outreach programs and engagement initiatives aimed at connecting researchers with the wider community.

Carly Hood, a postgraduate student, highlighted the value of creating opportunities for researchers from different fields to work together.

"It's great to see the Cambridge Mind and Brain Institute encouraging an open, collaborative culture, where creative individuals with different expertise can work together towards shared questions around mental health and human cognition. I look forward to the opportunity to work with and learn from people who bring fresh perspectives from a wide variety of disciplines."

The institute's broader objective is to connect research, education, clinical and community perspectives to improve understanding of brain and mind health across the lifespan.

More information about the Cambridge Mind and Brain Institute, including ways to get involved, is available on its official website, cmbi.cam.ac.uk.